Bust a gut
Monday January 18th 2010, 9:08 pm
Filed under: Crohn's flare,Family,Politics

(Typing fast, I’ve only got two minutes…)

Wha-a-a-t! That’s not supposed to…! I just put that in there!

Context:  Blue Cross helpfully said there were no deductibles on ileostomy supplies this year. Given our $10k deductible and a no-insurance catalog price of $995/month, that was a huge relief. They don’t tell you the fine points during the November enrollment period, nor do they answer the questions they don’t want you to know to ask.

So I was going, oh good.  And then they said that oh by the way that one month supply that just shipped, same monthly amount as ever, was, as of this year, to hold me for the quarter.  Wait, *what*!  Are you out of your MINDS?!

And today, how stunningly bad an idea that was was staring hard at me.

It’s okay. My doctor’s office is on it. (But why should they have to be?)

Michelle was sitting in a cozy spot on this cold, rainy day.  First time I ever saw a bluejay shaking itself off like a dog, or a very soaked squirrel, but I don’t think either would have cared for an offer of a hairdryer. Brrr.

Wrapped up in a blanket, hot mug of cocoa on the arm of the chair, laptop propped up on the other one, safe from all ills.  It cheered me up just to look at her.

I plunked down at her feet. “Can I growl?”

She looked at me. “Okay, you got one minute of whine.”

“Stupid bag burst.”

“Oh,” wincing.  She thought about it a moment.  Then she threw her arms out from under her blanket in a magnanimous, wide-open gesture, and granted me, “For that, you may have TWO minutes of whine!”

We both burst out laughing, and that was the end of that.  Hey, Michelle–you’re a good one.  Thank you.

(Massachusetts voters:  60.  It’s all in your hands tomorrow.)


15 Comments so far
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That whining comment was sooo funny! 🙂 Always find the silver lining of the dark clouds…

Comment by Monica 01.18.10 @ 10:58 pm

Oh, my. That certainly is better than “Oh, Mo-ther!”

Comment by Barbara-Kay 01.18.10 @ 11:45 pm

Yes, and there are lots of us who hope Mass votes the way they did when they elected Mitt Romney and several great senators so many years ago, including Saltonstal(spelling), Lodge, and Bunche, who I believe was the first African American elected to the Senate.

Sorry to cross you.

Dad

Comment by Dad 01.19.10 @ 12:04 am

In a Newsweek interview, Mitt Romney proposed that there be no upper cap–ever–on anyone’s medical expenses, with a 90% coverage max, so that Americans would be aware of their medical expenses and do their part to try to control them.

Yes, but, Mitt. That view could only be expressed by a man both wealthy and healthy and who has never suffered a multimillion-dollar catastrophic injury or disease. Even just my first three weeks in-hospital a year ago billed out to over $400,000 (before Blue Cross argued them down).

Comment by AlisonH 01.19.10 @ 12:39 am

Um, if it bursts it’s defective and should be returned to the retailer or manufacturer for replacement or refund ;-}

Comment by LynnM 01.19.10 @ 1:46 am

Having been around broken bags, I think you deserve a medal for such a polite reaction and only a minute or two of whine!

Comment by Channon 01.19.10 @ 7:08 am

Insanity.

Comment by Diana Troldahl 01.19.10 @ 8:26 am

the image just flashed of returning the defective bag as is. ewww! but do you think they would get the point? i love the way you handle life with humour and grace.

Comment by marti 01.19.10 @ 8:59 am

1. Marc’s iliostomy supplies come from Byram Health Care. They’ve been pushing him to get more supplies because the medicare payment will be decreasing. His last order was double what he ordered. Oyeeeee
2. Insofar as the Massachusetts Election.
a. When the Repugnantcans were in power, one only needed 51 votes. The spinless Dems are letting themselves be pushed to the 60 majority to avoid filibusters.
b. Martha Coakley has just about given the election away. She stopped campaigning for 2 weeks after the primary so she could have her Christmas Holiday. She obviously thinks that being a Dem is supposed to be all she needs.
3. I’m a Dem but I’m so fed up with Obama’s broken promises (Guantanamo still open, an increase in troops in Afghanistan, absolutely no prosecution of the war criminals in government) that I will vote but I really don’t expect anything good to come out of it.
4. Maybe Congress needs a former nude model who thinks he’s the best qualified of all MA National Guard people (Yep, that’s what he’s said and done).

by the way, I’ll be knitting the BigFoot as part of the Ravelympics. Wish me luck!

Comment by Leslie 01.19.10 @ 10:15 am

Wow! ouch on some of the comments!!! I don’t know how you stay so upbeat, Alison what with all the medical issues, etc.

I, for one, am getting very tired of one state have the deciding vote on how things go. (Remember Florida!!!!)

I was almost tempted to call my ex-in-laws who live in Mass. to tell them why they should vote Democratic though I am so disappointed that Martha Coakley would take this election for granted and not put every ounce of her energy into campaigning. Common woman!!!!! If she loses, that will be the end of her political career, I’m sure.

Comment by Joansie 01.19.10 @ 10:43 am

Ok, whine if you must. That you can do so with so much grace amazes me. On the other hand, there have been too many times when, if I didn’t laugh, I’d be a mess!

Got my fingers crossed on the Mass vote.

Humor —

THE ESSENCE OF CHUTZPAH 
A little old lady sold pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each.

Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time, and as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel. 

And this went on for more then 3 years. The two of them never spoke.

One day, as the young man passed the old lady’s stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady spoke to him. 
  
“Sir, thank you for your business. You are a good customer, but I have to tell you that the pretzel price has gone up to 35 cents.”  

(The first definition of chutzpah I ever heard of was this: The youngster who murders his parents, and then falls on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.)

Comment by Don Meyer 01.19.10 @ 10:56 am

Be careful with the hairdryer offer: you might end up having to put up a “hair and plume” miniature salon and get a trend going…

Come to think of it: would squirrels come for pedicures or manucures? Both?

Laughter is the best medicine, they say. Whining can be a good way to get the laughter going, I’m learning. lol

Comment by Suzanne in Mtl 01.19.10 @ 12:23 pm

But, people–Massachusetts already HAS practically universal coverage! What do those voters care about the rest of us….

Comment by Abby 01.19.10 @ 2:13 pm

I am crossing all of my fingers and toes for you, and Massachusetts too.
Thank goodness for Michelle!!

Comment by karin maag-tanchak 01.19.10 @ 3:21 pm

I was whining yesterday and my mom set me straight. Good to see you have the whine police there with you as well!

Comment by Momo Fali 01.20.10 @ 7:41 pm



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